Specials

Special Clyde Submarine Celebrations

The "Clyde Submarine Celebration" is the central event in the centennial celebrations of the British submarine fleet.

Report and most photographs by Charlie Tennant. May 2001

Excellent weather greeted the foreign visitors to HMNB Clyde. I took a morning boat trip up the Gareloch to view the assembled submarines. These trips were provided by the Clyde Marine vessels Rover and Cruiser but I was slightly disappointed they did not get a bit nearer to the base. I have sailed a lot closer on the Waverley.

Group of submarines visiting Faslane in order to celebrate the Clyde Submarine Base anniversary. In the centre the Dutch Bruinvis. Faslane May 29 2001 (Photo: © David McArthur).

In the afternoon I obtained a different perspective by taking a bus tour (Parks of Hamilton) - in the South Gate and out the North Gate with a 20/30 minute stop in a secure compound on the jetty from where it was possible to view and photograph most of the foreign guests. Those that could not be seen fully were visible on either the way in or out of the base. Some of these buses had as few as 12 people on board as a decision was taken late last week to only allow pre booked and obviously security checked persons onto the base. This proved a great source of frustration and anger to people who arrived expecting to purchase tickets on the day. It would seem that those who tried to book after the closing date and were told in good faith at the time that tickets would be available on the day.

In between I squeezed a visit to HMS Monmouth (F235) which was anchored of Helensburgh Pier tendering duties being performed by Oban (A283) for the general public and Omagh (A284) for the VIP's.

I list all those present starting from the south and working north :-

Vessel, pennant	Class, type, country
HMS Inverness (M102)	Sandown Class MCMV (Britain)
HMS Penzance (M106)	Sandown Class MCMV (Britain)
HMS Bridport (M105)	Sandown Class MCMV (Britain)
HMS Brecon (M29)	Hunt Class MCMV (Britain)
HMS Brocklesby (M33)	Hunt Class MCMV (Britain)
H(SW)MS Belos (A214)	Salvage Ship (Sweden)
H(SW)MS Gotland	Gotland Class SSK (Sweden)
ORP Orzel (271)	Kilo Class SSK (Poland)
SPS Tramontana (S74)	Agosta Class SSK (Spain)
FS Saphir (S602)	Rubis Class SSN (France)
HNLMS Brunvis (S810)	Walrus Class SSK (Netherlands)
FGS U24 (S173)	Type 206A SSK (Germany)
FGS U28 (S177)	Type 206A SSK (Germany)
RFS Vologda	Kilo Class SSK (Russia)
NRP Delfim (S166)	Albacora Class SSK (Portugal)
HNOMS Svenner (S309)..	Kobben Class SSK (Norway)
HMS Splendid (S106)	Swiftsure Class SSN (Britain)
HMS Sovereign (S108)	Swiftsure Class SSN (Britain)
HMS Vanguard (S28)	Vanguard Class SSBN (Britain)
HMS Superb (S109)	Swiftsure Class SSN (Britain)
USS Tennessee (734)	Ohio Class SSBN (USA)
HMS Monmouth (F235)	Duke Class Frigate (Britain)
LR class minisub	on board HMS Belos

A number of the scheduled visitors failed to appear perhaps the most notable being HMCS Windsor (SSK 878) formerly HMS Unicorn which I understand broke down en route and is currently alongside at Campbletown.

A terrific day out and a truly unique event unlikely to be repeated - 15 subs from 11 countries plus 7 other naval vessels on show.

Another American sub arrived at Faslane on Monday 4th June and was still there on the evening of Wednesday 6th June. She is a 'Seawolf Class Attack Submarine' - USS Connecticut (SSN 22) built 1998. I am reliably informed that she was not a late arrival for the Centenary Celebrations of last week but had put in for some essential repair work and should be back at sea within in a few days.

Above: FS Saphir (S602), HNLMS Bruinvis (S810) plus FGS U24 (S173) and FGS U28 (S177). (Photograph: Charlie Tennant).

 

Above: FGS U28 (S177), FGS U24 (S173), HNLMS Bruinvis (S810) and FS Saphir (S602). (Photograph: Charlie Tennant).

 

Above: RFS Vologda, NRP Delfim (S166) and HNOMS Svenner (S309). (Photograph: Charlie Tennant).

 

Above: High powered discussion on board RFS Vologda. (Photograph: Charlie Tennant).

 

Above: USS Tennessee (SSBN 734). (Photograph: Charlie Tennant).

 

Report and most photographs by Charlie Tennant. May 2001

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